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WMU basketball senior David Brown intends to petition the NCAA for sixth year of eligibility

David Brown.JPG

Western Michigan's David Brown reacts after making a three-points shot in overtime against Akron in an NCAA college basketball game at the Mid-American Conference tournament Friday, March 14, 2014, in Cleveland. Western Michigan defeated Akron 64-60 in overtime.
(AP Photo | Tony Dejak)

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Western Michigan University men's basketball senior guard David Brown intends to petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility, coach Steve Hawkins confirmed Monday afternoon.

Brown had the option of pursuing a professional career after the end of the season or petitioning for a sixth season because two serious injuries limited him to a total of 19 games in a two-year span.

Brown made the announcement on his Instagram account:

"I guess I'll start by saying that I will be coming back to Western Michigan for my sixth and final year. It's been great playing here, and playing with the group (of) guys we have. I feel like there is somethings I want to accomplish, and also somethings I want to accomplish with my little brothers. It was a hard choice, but I feel like I made the best choice for me as an individual and a basketball player."

The process of applying for a sixth year is expected to play out after the conclusion of the academic semester on April 26. Brown is currently taking graduate level classes. There is no exact timetable for how long it might take once an application is submitted.

“That is a decision he has to make,” Hawkins said in early April. “When he makes his mind up in
terms of which direction he goes, then we can file the appeal to the NCAA. That
timeframe, I have no idea how much time it takes. There is a lot of precedent
that’s been set for them to accept that and give him the sixth year. Everything
is in place and ready to go, but you never say you can absolutely count on
something like that to take place."

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Brown averaged 19.1 points per game as the Mid-American Conference's second-leading scorer this past season. He was named to the All-MAC First Team and received votes in the league MVP voting.

He helped the Broncos win the MAC regular season and tournament championships for the first time since 2004.

They lost to Syracuse in the NCAA tournament on March 20.

WMU graduates senior center Shayne Whittington and it was announced on April 1 that guards Hayden Hoerdemann and Leo Svete transferred out of the program.

Teams are allowed to have 13 scholarship players. The Broncos will bring in two freshmen in forward/center Drake Lamont and point guard Thomas Wilder.

Hawkins said the Broncos are looking to bring in an additional big man to fill the additional scholarship spot, though he cannot comment on unsigned players.

A team is allowed to over-recruit by one scholarship when it is going through the process of petitioning for a sixth year for one of its players, meaning the Broncos could potentially have 14 scholarship players for one season next year and then they would have to play with 12 the next season.

It is based on the premise that if a sixth year is not granted to the player the team would not be at a disadvantage on number of scholarship players.

Hawkins has previously said he had not made a decision on what WMU might do with an extra scholarship.